Fluid discharging punching bag



July 28, 1970 B. E. KIERNAN FLUID DISCHARGING PUNCHING BAG Filed March 27. 1968 Fla. .2.

mm M a 5 c M I BY United States Patent US. Cl. 272-7 8 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A punching bag, advantageously made as a toy, for stimulating play and/or practice of skills having to do with boxing and the like. Fluid under pressure is usefully employed to operate the punching bag and to react under impacts to discharge fluid both in a bizarre fashion for excitement and in a practical manner for realism. The punching bag per se is preferably in the form of a pugalists head and face, there being surge relief valves at the natural and appropriate openings in the head and face, and all of which is supplied by fluid under pressure, for example Water from a control means supplied by a source of such fluid. As a result, the fluid water is discharged in streams from the said surge relief valves when the head and face is struck a blow and disfigured, and after which the fluid water from the control means enters into and restores the initial configuration of the head and face.

The ordinary punching bag is inflated with compressible fluid and is of a size to correspond with the head of a person. Normally, such a bag is light in weight and not comparable to the actual weight of a persons head, nor does such a punching bag have the configuration and/or molded features of a head or face. Consequently, ordinary punching bags are not realistic and are not an accurate substitute for an actual head and face.

Separate and apart from a punching bag, it is common for children to play under sprinklers or the like, and specifically in a spray or fountain of water. Such practice of water play requires the continuous supply of water spray and results in flooding conditions. And, although such water play is somewhat exciting and refreshing to children, the direction and/ or control of the water is very limited and not too interesting.

In view of the two general situations hereinabove referred to, namely the prior art punching bags and said water play, it is an object of this invention to combine said two situations in a fluid operated punching bag that dispenses water upon impact. Insofar as the punching bag is concerned, it is realistic in size, shape and configuration, and is closely comparable to an actual head, as may be desired. Insofar as dispensing of water is concerned, it is the bizarre and incongruous mode of water discharge which makes the device interesting and -very exciting.

An object of this invention is to provide a fluid operated punching bag that discharges fluid, such as water, upon impact and in one or more directions or streams. With such a device water is distributed in a bizarre fashion, in a multitude of various manners and directions, all dependent upon the manner and dexterity of the impact applied.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fluid operated punching bag that is realistic in its configuration and stiffness or rigidness and weight distribution. With such a device the configuration can be identical to an actual head and face, and/ or variations can be established therein as desired.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a fluid operated punching bag that is supplied with fluid under pressure for its actuation and maintenance of a normal countenance of the head and face that it repreice sents. With such a device the head and face configuration is immediately restored after each impact which is implanted to cause a discharge of fluid and consequential disfiguration.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a self-maintained device of the character hereinabove referred to wherein a head and face comprising the punching bag is supported in a normal position for manual impact and wherein the supply and/ or control means for the fluid water is incorporated in the one device, whereby the device is complete and operative when connected to a supply of water under pressure, for example when connected to a household hose bib.

The various objects and features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the typical preferred form and application thereof, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fluid discharging punching bag in its typical and preferred form.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the head portion of the device as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of one of the parts separate from the surrounding structure, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on FIG. 3.

FIGS, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views of the two preferred forms of fluid control means of the present invention.

The fluid discharging punching bag is shown in its preferred form as a toy and wherein the bag portion represents the head and face of a pugalist. A typical and fanciful representation of such a head and face can be cre ated and itself exciting and of interest in appearance. Thus, the present invention is characterized by head H and involves, generally, a support S for carrying the head in a position susceptible to impacts to be inflicted manually, one or more surge relief valves V discharging in nozzle-like openings from the head, and fluid control means F for receiving a fluid supply and regulating the same for delivery into a cavity within the head. In the preferred form, the support S is an upright stand-like structure that carries the head H eye to eye with a person of normal stature who is to punch the head. The head H is of rubber-like material that is deformable and capable of being misshapen upon impact and such as to return to its initial form thereafter when resupplied with fluid under suitable pressure. The surge relief valves V are incorporated in the head H and retain fluid under nOrmal operating supply or pressure, and the fluid control means F supplies said normal operating supply or pressure of fluid and in this instance Water.

As shown, the head H is a representation or sculpture of a human head, realistic in any case, and fictitious if so desired. The size, shape and configuration can be substantially the same as an actual head and can include all the normal features such as ears 10, eyes 11, nose 12 and mouth 13. And, for purpose of this disclosure it is these main and dominant features that will be used in connection with the discharge of fluid from the head. However, the discharge of fluid can occur from other areas of the head and face, following the manner of discharge that will be hereinafter described.

Being a punching bag in the fundamental sense, the head H is a ball-like cell having an outer wall 20' defining a chamber 21 therein. The wall 20 is integral with and supported upon a neck 22 that is in open communication with the fluid control means F. As shown, the wall 20 of the head H, and also the neck 22, has thickened sections where the head requires rigidness for realism, and the face has a thinner section as at the checks in order to permit realistic depression. It is to be understood that the bone structure of a persons head and face can be substantially duplicated by thickening appropriate portions and sections of the wall all as circumstances require. The head H is, therefore, formed of a pliable material, for example of plastic that has sufficient memory so as to retain its initial molded shape. And, at each feature, the ears 10, eyes 11, nose 12 and mouth 13, there is an aperture or opening 29 of appropriate shape extending between the inner chamber 21 and exterior of the head H.

The support S that carries the head H can vary widely and includes a fluid delivery duct 25 that is in open communication with the interior chamber 21 of the head. In practice, the support S is a standard that has a platform or base 26 and a column 27. The base 26 is a horizontal flat element that rests upon the ground surface and upon which a person can stand so as to stabilize the device, and the colunm 27 is a tubular element that extends between the base 26 and neck 22 of the head. Accordingly, the column 27 is rigidly connected to both the base 26 and neck 22 and is substantially flexible and/or resilient so as to permit deflection and displacement of the head upon impact. That is, the head H is permitted to swing around as the columnar support 27 deflects and sways in omni directions.

sentially, the valve V is the same in each instance so that 5 a description of one will suffice for all. Accordingly, in FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown a cylindrically formed valve element of soft, compressible and/or elastic material such as rubber or a similar plastic. The element 30 is a hollow cylinder, having a soft and radially compressible wall 31, the total cross section of the cylinder being greater than the opening 29 into which it is to be installed, as shown. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the said hollow cylindrical element 30 is pressed into the ear, eye, nose and/or mouth openings respectively, in each instance so that the initial inner diameter wall thereof is pressed tightly together so as to close said opening, and consequently close said chamber 21. The amount of compression can vary as circumstances require in order to create the desired yielding resistances to the flow of fluid, and all to the end that a simple surge relief valve is established. Thus, each opening 29 in the head H is equipped with a compressed cylindrical valve element that discharges, as a nozzle, fluid along its axis of disposition, when pressure within chamber 21 exceeds the resistance to normal pressure which maintains fluid within said chamber.

The fluid control means F that supplies said normal fluid supply or pressure into the chamber 21 of the head (H can vary in form, and in FIG. 5 it is shown as a constant pressure relief valve 40, while in FIG. 6 the means F is shown as a fluid flow orifice 45. Essentially, the control means F limits the amount of fluid water admitted into the chamber, and in the case of the constant pres sure outlet valve the demand can be intermittent, while in the case of the flow orifice the demand can be substantially constant. In either case the chamber 21 is supplied so that it is refilled after any depletion. In accordance with the invention, the fluid supply pressure must therefore exceed the discharge relief pres sure of the valve or valves V, in which case the supply of fluid water through a hose is at a higher pressure than the normal pressure within chamber 21. In the case of the constant pressure outlet valve 40, it is set or adjusted to pass fluid water from the hose 50 and into said chamber 21 at said normal operating pressure. In the case of the fluid flow orifice 45, the hose bib or like supply valve (not shown) is regulated as a throttle, or it is opened to its fullest when the supply pressure does not exceed an abnormal condition within the head H.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the fluid discharging punching bag is simple and effective. The head H is realistic and adapted to squirt fluid water in a variety of directions. The fluid discharge is effected by manual impact upon the head, from all quarters, and each impact will increase the internal fluid pressure, thereby causing discharge of fluid through the valves V. Each impact will leave the head H disfigured, whereupon the fluid supplied by means F replaces the same and restores the head H to its initial configuration. In the process of inflicting blows upon the head H, the person executing the same is consequently sprayed with fluid water, thereby creating the fun and pleasure to which this invention is primarily directed.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A fluid discharging punching bag wherein the bag comprises an imperforate and deformable wall, and including, a support means carrying the bag in position susceptible to manual impacts, normally closed surge relief valve means in the wall of the bag to discharge fluid from within the bag, and fluid control means supplying fluid under pressure into the bag to replenish discharged fluid and thereby restore fullness to the bag.

2. The fluid discharging punching bag as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the bag has the countenance of a face with thickened walls at those portions of the face normally backed by bone structure and the like, thereby simulating a realistic face.

3. The fluid discharging punching bag as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the bag has the countenance of a face with ears, eyes, nose and mouth and wherein at least one of which defines an opening through the wall of the bag, said opening being normally closed by a unit of said surge relief valve means.

4. The fluid discharging punching bag as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the bag has the countenance of a face with ears, eyes, nose and mouth and wherein each one of which defines an opening disposed on its individual axis through the Wall of the bag, said openings each being normally closed by a unit of said surge relief valve means.

5. The fluid discharging punching bag as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bag has the countenance of a face' with thickened walls at those portions of the face normally backed by bone structure and the like, thereby simulating a realistic face, and with ears, eyes, nose and month, each one of which defines an opening disposed on its individual axis through the wall of the bag, said openings each being normally closed by a unit of said relief valve means.

6. The fluid discharging punching bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support is resilient and tubular in cross section, being in open communication between the interior of the bag and the fluid control means supplying the same.

7. The fluid discharging punching bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support is a resilient tubular member fixedly connected to and extending between the bag and a platform and in open communication between the interior of the bag and the fluid control means supplying the same.

8. The fluid discharging punching bag as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the fluid control means comprises a constant pressure outlet valve delivering fluid under lesser pressure than the pressure release point of the surge relief valve means.

9. The fluid discharging punching bag as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the fluid control means comprises a fluid flow restrictor delivering fluid under pressure for subsequent discharge through the surge relief valve means.

10. A fluid discharging punching bag wherein the bag comprises an imperforate and deformable wall de fining a chamber therein, and including a support comprising a platform with a vertically disposed tubular column carrying the bag in a position susceptible to impacts, normally closed surge relief valve means in the wall of the bag to discharge fluid from within the bag, and fluid control means supplying fluid under pressure into the bag to replenish discharged fluid and thereby restore fullness of the bag, said column being in open communication to the interior of the bag to deliver fluid therein from said fluid control means.

11. The fluid discharging punching bag as set forth in claim and wherein the bag has the countenance of a face with ears, eyes, nose and mouth and wherein at least one of which defines an opening through the wall of the bag, said opening being normally closed by a unit of said surge relief valve means.

12. The fluid discharging punching bag as set forth in claim 10, wherein the bag has the countenance of a face with ears, eyes, nose and mouth and wherein at least one of which defines an opening through the wall of the bag, and wherein the surge relief valve means comprises a cylinder of compressible material pressed into said opening and with its opposite inner diameter walls normally in pressured engagement for the restriction of fluid flow.

13. The fluid discharging punching bag as set forth in claim 10, wherein the bag has countenance of a face with ears, eyes, nose and mouth and each one of which defines an opening disposed on its individual axis through the wall of the bag, and wherein the surge relief valve means comprises a cylinder of compressible material pressed into each of said openings and with its opposite inner diameter 'walls normally in pressured engagement for the restriction of fluid flow respectively.

14. The fluid discharging punching bag as set forth in claim 10, wherein the bag has countenance of a face with ears, eyes, nose and mouth and each one of which defines an opening disposed on its individual axis through the wall of the bag, and wherein the surge relief valve means comprises a cylinder of compressible material pressed into each of said openings and with its opposite inner diameter walls normally in pressured engagement for the restriction of fluid flow respectively and wherein the fluid control means comprises a constant pressure outlet valve delivering fluid under lesser pressure than the pressure release point of the surge relief valve means.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 3/ 1964 Great Britain. 8/ 1926 Germany. 

